The Beauty of “Independent” Expert Advice

Vanity Fair sheds a little light on “Washington’s $8 Billion Shadow.”

SAIC holds 9,000 contracts with the US government which generate most of its $8 billion of annual revenue; it employs or has employed in the past some of the biggest names in government, particularly in areas of national security. SoD Robert Gates, former weapons inspecter David Kay, and retired general Wayne Downing are all former directors at SAIC. Prior to the Iraq invasion, Kay and Downing would argue on numerous occassions for military action against Iraq. They did not disclose, and rarely was it noted, that they worked for and/or held stock in a company that stood to profit (perhaps more than any other) from those military actions.

As made evident in the VF article, the above is only the tip of the iceburg in terms of SAIC’s shady dealings. Greater oversight of the relationship between business and government is needed — especially in the realm of national security.